Homework

**NOTE: This page needs updating!**

Homework is an important part of every student’s education. It reinforces and extends learning while helping to develop work and study skills. Because of the nature of English, the type of homework varies but it is reasonable to expect homework to be set most nights. It is ideal to have parent help and/or encouragement.

Generally, homework will fall into the following categories: • Reading: Every student should be reading regularly, either a ‘set book’ or a book from the library. Junior students are required to maintain a reading log and senior students have wide-reading assignments. • Continuation of class work: Completing an exercise given in class e.g. writing, preparing for a debate, learning lines for drama etc. • Assignment work: This could be responses to literature, research etc. It is important that students are taught to plan the use of their time. • Study: For seniors preparing for external examinations, study techniques should be reinforced and a revision programme covered.

Homework should be checked whenever it is set. Students should understand the consequences of not completing homework. Persistent failure to complete homework should result in further action, following the departmental and school discipline procedures.

Homework should never be set as a time filling exercise for students nor in an attempt to placate those parents who may be happy with ‘busyness’ above education.

Good homework practice recognises that: • homework should be within a pupil’s capabilities and should involve the use of only those material resources which are known to be readily available to pupils • it should be clearly defined so that pupils understand what is required of them • it should be quickly checked by the teacher • it should have interest and purpose. The motivation should be to arouse the desire to discover and to learn (e.g. by reading more widely and deeply around a topic or a particular interest), to consolidate work already introduced at school, or to practise skills already learned at school • it should develop out of school work and should prepare the way for further work at school • it should involve active, thoughtful work • it should provide opportunities for pupils to apply in various ways the knowledge, skills, and appreciations learned in the classroom • it should provide occasional opportunities for pupils to explore independently new materials, but not new processes or new skills, prior to their formal presentation by the teacher • it should awaken in the pupils a realisation of their responsibility for independent study and a strengthening of proper study habits and skills

- from the Department of Education’s HOD Manual, 1984

[Insert departmental and/or school policy on homework]

